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www.dailytrojan.com
INSIDE
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
October 14, 2005
Dwayne Iarret and the Trojans will face a talented Irish team on the road. 12
Vol. CXL VII, No. 38
Student chained in baby death
Holly Ashcraft, 21, was charged with child abuse and murder; bail is set at $2 million.
By KARA NICHOLS
Staff Writer
A USC student suspected of giving birth and abandoning her infant son in a dumpster behind the 29th Street Cafe was charged Thursday with murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The bail for Holly Ashcraft, 21, was doubled to $2 million because Ashcraft is considered a (light risk since "she has no ties to California," said Jane Robinson, press secretary for the District Attorney.
Ashcraft had not made bail at 7 p.m. Thursday and is being held at Twin Tower Correctional Faculty, the Los Angeles County jail.
Ashcraft, who is from Montana, was charged with one count of murder and one count of child abuse, which could carry a maximum sentence of 25 years to life, Robinson said.
The Los Angeles Police Abused Child Unit arrested Ashcraft Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Ashcraft allegedly abandoned her baby in a cardboard box inside a dumpster at the rear of the 29th Street Cafe, said LAPD Capt Anita Ortega. Police responded to the scene around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
There is no doubt the infant found is Ashcraft’s child, Ortega said.
The infant was bom alive and there is no indication the baby had been killed before being put in the box, she said.
LAPD thinks the baby died from a lack of medical attention and suffocation, Ortega said. The umbilical cord was still attached, she said.
The coroner's report will be released in about 30 days, she said.
Ashcraft was a full-time student before the arrest and is now gn interim suspension, said James Grant, executive director of USC media relations.
A student or organization can be put on interim suspension if there is evidence a student or organization poses a threat to the safety of members of the USC community, according to the Student Conduct Code. An individual or group can also be put on interim suspension for being a threat to USC property or continuously disrupting university life.
While on interim suspension, Ashcraft is prohibited from attending classes, participating in university-sponsored activities and being on university premises, according to the conduct code.
Grant said Ashcraft was majoring in architecture and started at USC in fall 2003.
Friends said she had dropped architecture and was pursuing a fine arts major.
Ashley Snodgrass, a third-year architecture student, said Ashcraft was a nice, outgoing and carefree girl.
I see Charges page • I
mm. >■
m
Thomas Rlppe I Daily Trojan
Welcome back. Cynthia Cherry, vice president of Student Affairs at Tulane University, met with students to inform ttiem that Tulane is scheduled to re-open for spring classes Jan. 17.
Tulane to reopen in January: Students at USC get to return
Quick Facts
Although some students are concerned, Tulane hopes all will return early next year.
By STEPHANIE SAMUELSON
Contributing Writer
Students from Tulane University studying at USC this semester received quite a surprise Thursday afternoon when,one of their own announced he wanted to stay at USC during a meeting held to encourage the students to return.
Many of the displaced students are more than ready to go home. But Matthew Sigman. a junior majoring in business, said his concerns about Tulane and New Orleans post-
Hurricane Katrina’s destruction are looming.
“USC is a good school. And I don’t know if Tulane is going to be what it was," Sigman said.
But other Tulane students said they all have to return to New Orleans to make their school what it once was.
That is what it is going to take to make Tulane as good as it used to be, said Molly DiGaetano, a senior majoring in business who evacuated to Memphis before coming to USC.
Run by Cynthia Cherry, Tulane’s vice president of Student Affairs, the meeting was held in Popovich Hall to encourage students to return to New Orleans for Tulane's re-opening I see Return page 3 1
Hurricane Katrina caused Tulane University, along with other colleges along the Gulf Coast, to close for the semester.
Classes at Tulane will start again Jan. 17, 2006.
Laurie returns her USC degree
University officials sq,id Wal-Mart heiress Elizabeth Paige Laurie is no longer considered a USC alumna.
By JOSHUA SHARP
Contributing Writer
Wal-Mart heiress Elizabeth Paige Laurie voluntarily surrendered her USC degree and returned her diploma, concluding the university’s investigation into allegations surrounding her time at the university, a Sept 30 university press release stated.
Michael Jackson, vice president of student affairs and enrollment
service®, declined to state whether
the investigation’s conclusion had caused Ijiurie to give back her degree, or if Laurie’s actions pre-empted the conclusion of the investigation.
“It’s a private matter between her and the university, so I can’t com ment on the specifics," Jackson said. “The statement speaks for itself”
Laurie graduated in May 2004 with a degree in communication from the USC Annenberg School for Communication.
Geoffrey Baum, assistant dean of public affairs for the Annenberg School for Communication, also declined to comment, citing privacy restrictions.
The three-sentence statement, released Sept. 30, noted that Laurie is no longer considered a graduate of USC.
Laurie allegedly paid roommate Elena Martinez an estimated $20,000 over three and a half years to complete homework assignments and other academic tasks. The allegations made by Martinez originally aired Nov. 19, 2004 during an ABC “20/20” segment on cheating. This prompted a university review of the charges made against Laurie.
In a Dady Trojan article published Dec. 1, 2004, Jackson said that the investigation would encom-I see Laurie, page 3 I
7l : j At ««
Appreciation. Araceli Esparza presents a bouquet to Professor Teresa McKenna for her contributions.
NYU Professor discusses Latino voting practices
Professor Arlene Davila talks about why more Latinos have been voting Republican
By NANCY RODRIGUEZ
Staff Writer
The two-day Latina/oSymposium. which showcases USC graduate student and nationally recognized faculty research, began Thursday evening.
More than 60 students, faculty and research academics attended the event
held at Doheny Memorial Library. Arlene Davila, an associate professor of anthropology and American studies at New York University who jvas the keynote speaker, discussed the ways that Latinos are becoming more Republican
“Since the 2000 census there have been debates about Latinos' political attitudes and a renewed urgency about their impact on the United States national identity.' Davila satd. There are arguments over wheth-l see tympoeium page t
INDEX
Though visually spectacular. "Domino" falls flat in other areas. 5
Senate's new meeting schedule is deceiving. 4
Newt Digest... 2 Sports. Ipconung — .1 CUuiftrds-4 Ufnt^
11
WEATHER
Today: Sunny. High of 8& low of 60. Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. High 74. low 51
I

www.dailytrojan.com
INSIDE
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
October 14, 2005
Dwayne Iarret and the Trojans will face a talented Irish team on the road. 12
Vol. CXL VII, No. 38
Student chained in baby death
Holly Ashcraft, 21, was charged with child abuse and murder; bail is set at $2 million.
By KARA NICHOLS
Staff Writer
A USC student suspected of giving birth and abandoning her infant son in a dumpster behind the 29th Street Cafe was charged Thursday with murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The bail for Holly Ashcraft, 21, was doubled to $2 million because Ashcraft is considered a (light risk since "she has no ties to California," said Jane Robinson, press secretary for the District Attorney.
Ashcraft had not made bail at 7 p.m. Thursday and is being held at Twin Tower Correctional Faculty, the Los Angeles County jail.
Ashcraft, who is from Montana, was charged with one count of murder and one count of child abuse, which could carry a maximum sentence of 25 years to life, Robinson said.
The Los Angeles Police Abused Child Unit arrested Ashcraft Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Ashcraft allegedly abandoned her baby in a cardboard box inside a dumpster at the rear of the 29th Street Cafe, said LAPD Capt Anita Ortega. Police responded to the scene around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
There is no doubt the infant found is Ashcraft’s child, Ortega said.
The infant was bom alive and there is no indication the baby had been killed before being put in the box, she said.
LAPD thinks the baby died from a lack of medical attention and suffocation, Ortega said. The umbilical cord was still attached, she said.
The coroner's report will be released in about 30 days, she said.
Ashcraft was a full-time student before the arrest and is now gn interim suspension, said James Grant, executive director of USC media relations.
A student or organization can be put on interim suspension if there is evidence a student or organization poses a threat to the safety of members of the USC community, according to the Student Conduct Code. An individual or group can also be put on interim suspension for being a threat to USC property or continuously disrupting university life.
While on interim suspension, Ashcraft is prohibited from attending classes, participating in university-sponsored activities and being on university premises, according to the conduct code.
Grant said Ashcraft was majoring in architecture and started at USC in fall 2003.
Friends said she had dropped architecture and was pursuing a fine arts major.
Ashley Snodgrass, a third-year architecture student, said Ashcraft was a nice, outgoing and carefree girl.
I see Charges page • I
mm. >■
m
Thomas Rlppe I Daily Trojan
Welcome back. Cynthia Cherry, vice president of Student Affairs at Tulane University, met with students to inform ttiem that Tulane is scheduled to re-open for spring classes Jan. 17.
Tulane to reopen in January: Students at USC get to return
Quick Facts
Although some students are concerned, Tulane hopes all will return early next year.
By STEPHANIE SAMUELSON
Contributing Writer
Students from Tulane University studying at USC this semester received quite a surprise Thursday afternoon when,one of their own announced he wanted to stay at USC during a meeting held to encourage the students to return.
Many of the displaced students are more than ready to go home. But Matthew Sigman. a junior majoring in business, said his concerns about Tulane and New Orleans post-
Hurricane Katrina’s destruction are looming.
“USC is a good school. And I don’t know if Tulane is going to be what it was," Sigman said.
But other Tulane students said they all have to return to New Orleans to make their school what it once was.
That is what it is going to take to make Tulane as good as it used to be, said Molly DiGaetano, a senior majoring in business who evacuated to Memphis before coming to USC.
Run by Cynthia Cherry, Tulane’s vice president of Student Affairs, the meeting was held in Popovich Hall to encourage students to return to New Orleans for Tulane's re-opening I see Return page 3 1
Hurricane Katrina caused Tulane University, along with other colleges along the Gulf Coast, to close for the semester.
Classes at Tulane will start again Jan. 17, 2006.
Laurie returns her USC degree
University officials sq,id Wal-Mart heiress Elizabeth Paige Laurie is no longer considered a USC alumna.
By JOSHUA SHARP
Contributing Writer
Wal-Mart heiress Elizabeth Paige Laurie voluntarily surrendered her USC degree and returned her diploma, concluding the university’s investigation into allegations surrounding her time at the university, a Sept 30 university press release stated.
Michael Jackson, vice president of student affairs and enrollment
service®, declined to state whether
the investigation’s conclusion had caused Ijiurie to give back her degree, or if Laurie’s actions pre-empted the conclusion of the investigation.
“It’s a private matter between her and the university, so I can’t com ment on the specifics," Jackson said. “The statement speaks for itself”
Laurie graduated in May 2004 with a degree in communication from the USC Annenberg School for Communication.
Geoffrey Baum, assistant dean of public affairs for the Annenberg School for Communication, also declined to comment, citing privacy restrictions.
The three-sentence statement, released Sept. 30, noted that Laurie is no longer considered a graduate of USC.
Laurie allegedly paid roommate Elena Martinez an estimated $20,000 over three and a half years to complete homework assignments and other academic tasks. The allegations made by Martinez originally aired Nov. 19, 2004 during an ABC “20/20” segment on cheating. This prompted a university review of the charges made against Laurie.
In a Dady Trojan article published Dec. 1, 2004, Jackson said that the investigation would encom-I see Laurie, page 3 I
7l : j At ««
Appreciation. Araceli Esparza presents a bouquet to Professor Teresa McKenna for her contributions.
NYU Professor discusses Latino voting practices
Professor Arlene Davila talks about why more Latinos have been voting Republican
By NANCY RODRIGUEZ
Staff Writer
The two-day Latina/oSymposium. which showcases USC graduate student and nationally recognized faculty research, began Thursday evening.
More than 60 students, faculty and research academics attended the event
held at Doheny Memorial Library. Arlene Davila, an associate professor of anthropology and American studies at New York University who jvas the keynote speaker, discussed the ways that Latinos are becoming more Republican
“Since the 2000 census there have been debates about Latinos' political attitudes and a renewed urgency about their impact on the United States national identity.' Davila satd. There are arguments over wheth-l see tympoeium page t
INDEX
Though visually spectacular. "Domino" falls flat in other areas. 5
Senate's new meeting schedule is deceiving. 4
Newt Digest... 2 Sports. Ipconung — .1 CUuiftrds-4 Ufnt^
11
WEATHER
Today: Sunny. High of 8& low of 60. Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. High 74. low 51
I